RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., April 3 (UPI) -- Kristy McPherson and Christina Kim took advantage of favorable tee times Friday to grab the lead after 36 holes of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Strong winds were forecast to blow all day Friday in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at the first major event on the 2009 LPGA Tour schedule, but they did not appear until morning starters had finished play.
McPherson and Kim were among the early starters and they reached 6-under 138 for two trips around the Mission Hills Country Club course. McPherson fired a 70 Friday and Kim had a 69.
Cristie Kerr, who also had a morning tee time, was alone in third place at 139 after shooting a 71.
Those playing in the afternoon had to contend with winds gusting to 40 mph. First-round leader Brittany Lincicome shot a 74 during the afternoon to stand alone in fourth at 140.
The biggest victim of the high winds was Angela Stanford, who with four holes to play was the tournament leader at 7-under. She lost five shots to par over those final four holes, however, and wound up tied for seventh at 142 having fired a 75.
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa also played late in the day and shot a 73 for a 146 total -- good for a 23rd place tie. Michelle Wie, playing her first major championship as a member of the LPGA Tour, struggled to an 81 in the afternoon and barely made the cut at 152.
